Red-bellied Pacu

Facts

Imitates the piranha

The pirapitinga looks like a piranha, but it is also related to the red piranha. Both live in the lakes and rivers of the Amazon rain forest. Young pirapitinga exploit their similarity with their sharp-toothed relatives by infiltrating piranha shoals. The piranhas do not attack the pirapitinga. They are therefore well protected among the piranhas.

Flat teeth

The pirapitinga has flat teeth. They resemble our molars. With their hard teeth and powerful jaws, the pirapitinga crushes and grinds nuts, fruits and other plant foods.

Crossing of species

It is common for different pacu species to cross in nature. The space between the first and second series of teeth reveals here that it is a Silver Pacu Piaractus Brachypomus. There are larger spaces in hybrids (crossings).